Holder for coils of metal wire or strapping



Jan. 28, 1941.

HOLDER FOR COILS OF METAL WIRE OR STRAPPING- Filed'April '7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l G. J. ABBOTT 2,229,787

Jan. 28, '1941 G. J. ABBOTT 2,229,787

HOLDER FOR COILS OF METAL WIRE 0R STRAPPING Filed April 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HOLDER FOR COILS OF METAL WIRE R STRAP PING Application April 7, 1939, Serial No. 266,668 In Great Britain December 19, 1938 10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved holder for supporting coils of wire or metal strapping of the kind used for example in binding cases, bales, boxes and the like, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a support which will enable the coil to be rotated and the wire or strapping drawn ofi from the coil by simply pulling on the free end of the wire or strapping.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping comprising a support, a carrier mounted for rotation on said support, and on which a coil may be rested in substantially coaxial relationship therewith and a guide through which the wire or strapping is passed as it is drawn off the coil. This guide, which may be conveniently formed as a tube, may be shaped and mounted so as to lead the wire or strapping as it is drawn off from the coil in a direction at an go angle to the plane of rotation of the carrier.

Thus for example the rotary carrier with a coil thereon may be arranged close to the floor and the wire or strapping as it is drawn oil the coil may be directed upwards by the guide towards the work 25 level.

In accordance with the invention, the guide for the wire or strapping may also be mounted so as to be capable of limited movement on the support and the entry end of the guide arranged to en- 3o gage in one of its positions with a part on the rotary carrier so as to prevent the latter rotating. The shape of the guide may be such that a pull upon the wire or strapping passed through the guide, to unwind the coil, efiects such a movement 35 of the guide as will disengage its entry end from the part on the rotary carrier, so that the latter is made free to rotate. Biasing means such as a spring may be provided to effect a return movement of the guide to the stopping position when 4 the pull on the wire or strapping is released.

The means provided on the carrier for co-operation in the above described manner with the entry end of the guide to stop rotation of the carrier, may comprise a number of upward projec- 5 tions near the periphery of the carrier which also serve to limit the expansion or degree of uncoiling of the coil on the carrier due to the inherent springiness of the material. In the position of rest the entry end of the guide lies in the path of 50 rotation of said projections and forms a stop for engagement by any one of them, whilst during the operation of drawing ofi the wire or strapping from the coil said guide is moved by the tension of the wire or strapping and the entry end of the as guide moved from the path of the projections and to aposition nearer the axis of the rotary carrier.

Whilst the improved holder is adapted for use with coils of wire or with ribbon wound coils of strapping, it ofiers particularly marked advantage when used in the manipulation of mill wound coils of strapping, that is to say coils in which each of the superposed layers in the coil includes a plurality of convolutions after the manner of the threads wound upon a bobbin. Such mill wound coils of strapping are of much greater 10 weight than ribbon wound coils of similar diameter;

With a view to still further facilitating the handling of such heavy mill wound coils, the improved holder according to the invention may be mount- 15 ed upon'wheels so as to be readily transportable.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accomapnying drawings in which Fig 1 is a view in perspective of a complete coil holder according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking from the left in Fig. l and with a mill wound coil of metal strapping shown in position,

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of the holder with a coil of strapping in position.

Referring'to the drawings, a support of metal tubular construction comprises a main tube I and across tube 2 at one end of said main tube I, this cross tube housing an axle for a pair of wheels 3. At the other end of the main tube I is aflixed a further tube 4 which extends upwardly from tube I andis bent to form a convenient handle 5. A foot 6 is provided at the junction of tubes I and 4 which when rested upon the floor supports bar I substantially horizontally.

At a point intermediate the length of tube I is fixedly mounted an upwardly extending pillar 1 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and having a conical tip.

The rotary coil carrier is formed by a spider having four symmetrically arranged arms 8 extending radially from a central hub sleeve 9 closed at its upper end and adapted to fit over and rotateupon the pillar l.

A screw I0 passed through a hole in the end of the hub sleeve 9 and into the end of the pillar 1 serves to retain the carrier on the pillar.

Bracing webs I I are provided between the arms 8 and the hub sleeve 9, these webs I I being of a radial length somewhat less than the radius-of 50 the space within a coil of wire or strapping I2 to be used (see Fig. 3). The upper outer corners I3 of the webs II arepreferably chamfered, to facilitate the placing of a coil in position on the carrier. 5

The guide for the wire or strapping as it is I drawn oif the coil I2 is in the case illustrated formed of a shaped tube I6 of an internal diameter somewhat greater than the width of the widest strapping to be handled, and 'is curved as shown so that when mounted a part near its'entry end may lie substantially parallel to th'e-outer'turns of a coil of strapping on the carrier and inwards with regard to the path of rotation'of theup'ward ly extending limbs 55 of the angle pieces I4 on the carrier arms 8, and at a level convenient for the entry of the strapping from the coil -I2 without kinking it, as shown for example in Fig. 2. The guide tube I6 may be conveniently mounted on the upwardly extending tube 4 forming part of the support for the carrier, and the entry end I5 of the tube directed substantially tangentially of the circular path of rotation of projections I5 as shown in Fig. 3. The tube I6 is also shaped and mounted so as to have an upward sweep from its inlet end I6 to its outlet end I6, Fig. 2.

In use, the coil of wire or strapping I2 having been placed in position on the carrier by passing it over the webs II, the freeend of the coil is threaded through the guide tube I6.

The holder may nowbe brought to a suitable position on the floor relatively to the work bench by means of the wheeled support I, 2, 3, and handle 5, and thereafter material may be drawn off as required from the coil I2 by pulling it through the guide tube I6, the'coil and carrier meanwhile rotating .on-the bearing pillar I.

In the case of fiat metal strapping, the strapping cannot of course bend in its own plane as it is drawn ofi the coil I2, but the tubular form of the upwardly swept guide .16 permits a progressive twisting. of the strapping as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and thus'it may be drawn upwards from the coil-near the floor to a higher working level.

In section, strapping within the guide tube I6 forms a chord with the internal surface of said tube,-but it is-the edges of the inner side onlyof the strapping, that is to say the edges of the surface originally towards the centre of the coil I2, which make rubbing engagement with the interior of the tube I6. Thus the improved holder is without adverse'efiect upon lacquering, printing or the like on the outer surfaceo-r edges of treated strapping.

The direction of the twist imparted to strapping in the guide tube It in the case illustrated is such as to bring the inner'side of the strapping uppermost, but a twist in the reverse direction to bring the outside of the portion of strapping about to be used uppermost, can readily be imparted by hand by the operator.

Alternatively a ring 22 may beprovided on the tube 4 in a position above the outletend of guide tube Iii, through which the strapping may be passed after leaving'the end of tube I6'andthe reversal of the strapping effected by pulling it in an appropriate direction away from the ring 22.

The ends I6 and I6" of theguide tube I6 may with advantage be flared.

length by means of a stirrup I I, to a bracket member I8 formed of sheet metal bent to the shape shown and mounted for limited angular rocking movements on the straight portion of tube'4.

Atfthe'lower end of bracket member I8 is provided an extension piece I9 extending towards ;the rotary carrier and having a downwardly extending fork 20 at the free end thereof, which fork embraces the tube I. A spring 2I aflixed to tube I extends through the fork 20 to urge the bracket I8 and tubular guide I6 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3 about the axis of tube 4.

Thedimensions of the fork 20 are such that the bracket I8 and guide'tube I6 may move between two positions in one of end I 6 of the guide tube lies in the path of rotation of projections I5 on the rotary carrier as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and a position where the entry end I6 of said tube I6 lies at the side of said path towards the axis of the rotary carr er as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the projections I5 canpass, during rotationof'the carrier, outside the lower part of the tubular guide.

The pull upon the strapping extending through the guide tube I6 causes the bracket I8 and tube I6 to move-against spring 2I into the dotted line positionof Fig. 3 towards the coil I2 and out of the path .of projections I5, so that the rotary carrier is free to rotate and the coil to unwind.

If the'strapping is passed through the ring 22 as described above, the tube IE will still be rocked 1n this manner when the strapping is pulled, irrespective of the direction in which the strapping is pulled away from said ring.

When the pull on the strapping is relaxed, the bracket I8 and'tubular guide I6 are returned by spring 2| to the full line position of Fig. 3 where the first following projection I5 abuts against the end -I6'-of the tubular guide to bring the rotating carrier to a standstill.

Icla'im:

1. An improved holder for a coil of wireor metal strapping, comprising a support, a rotary carrier mounted on said support and on which a coil maybe rested in substantially co-axial relationship therewith, a projection adjacent the periphery of said rotary carrier and a shaped guide through which the material is passed as it is drawn off the coil and'adapted to lead the material in a direction at an angle to the plane of rotation of the carrier, said shaped guide being mounted with limited movement upon "the support and means to limit the movement of said guide so'that'the entry end thereof may be moved between a position in thepath of the projection on the rotary carrier and a position but of said path and nearer the axis of the carrier.

2. An improved holder fora coil 'of wire or metal strapping, comprising a support, a rotary carrier mounted on said support and on which a coil -ma'yibe rested bodily-in substantially coaxial relationship therewith, a-projection on said rotary carrier, a tubular guide through which which the entry the material is passed as it is drawn off the coil, said guide being adapted to lead the material in a direction at an angle to the plane of rotation of the rotary carrier and being mounted so as to be capable of limited movement upon the support so that the entry end thereof may be moved into and out of the path of rotation of the projection on the rotary carrier and biasing means adapted to urge the entry end of said guide member into the path of rotation of the projection.

3. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping comprising a transportable support, a rotary carrier mounted on said support and on which a coil may be rested bodily in substantially co-axial relation therewith, said carrier including a rotary hub, a series of radial arms connected with said hub and projections adjacent the outer ends of said arms adapted to limit the expansion of a coil in position on the carrier, a curved tubular guide through which the material is passed as it is drawn off the coil, said guide being mounted with limited movement on the support so that the inlet end thereof is capable of movement between a position in the path of rotation of the projections and a position on the inside of said path, and disposed so as to lead the material spirally upwards and outwards across the path of rotation of said projections.

4. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping comprising a transportable support including an upwardly directed column, a rotary carrier mounted on said support and on which a coil maybe rested bodily in substantially co-axial relation therewith, said carrier. including a hub, a series of radial arms connected with said hub, upwardly extending webs on the inner ends of the arms adapted to enter the central space of a coil to locate the latter on the carrier and projections adjacent the outer ends of said arms adapted to limit the expansion of a coil in position on the carrier, a tubular guide through which the material is passed as it is drawn off the coil, said guide being pivotally mounted for limited rocking movements on the column on the support so that one end thereof may engage and disengage a projection on the rotary carrier and being disposed so as to lead the material from the coil in a direction at an angle to the plane of rotation of the rotary carrier and outwardly across the path of rotation of the projections adjacent the outer ends of the arms.

5. An improved holder for a coil of Wire or metal strapping, comprising a support, a rotary coil carrier mounted on said support and on which a wound coil may be placed bodily in substantially co-axial relationship therewith, means adjacent the periphery of the rotary carrier to limit the unwinding of the coil on the carrier, and a shaped tubular guide of compound curvature through which the strip material is passed as it is drawn oil the coil, said guide being mounted on the support with its inlet end projecting on the inner side of the path of rotation of the means for limiting the unwinding of the coil and disposed so as to direct the unwound material in an upward curve from the plane of rotation of the rotary carrier and in a curve outwards across the periphery of the rotary carrier at an inclination to the plane of rotation of the rotary carrier.

6. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping, comprising a support, a rotary coil carrier mounted on said support and on which a wound coil may be placed bodily in substantially co-axial relationship therewith, means adjacent the periphery of the rotary carrier to limit the unwinding of the coil on the carrier, and a tubular guide of smooth compound curvature through which the strip materal is passed as it is drawn off the coil, said guide being mounted on the support with its inlet end projecting on the inner side and substantially tangentially of the path of rotation of the means for limiting the unwinding of the coil and disposed so as to direct the unwound material in an upward curve from the plane of rotation of the rotary carrier and in a curve outwards across the periphery of the rotary carrier at an inclination to the plane of rotation of the rotary carrier.

'7. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping, comprising a support, a rotary carrier, mounted on said support and on which a coil may be rested bodily in substantially coaxial relationship therewith, a projection adjacent the periphery of said rotary carrier, a curved tubular guide through which the material is passed as it is drawn off the coil and adapted to lead the material in a direction at an angle to the plane of rotation of the carrier, said guide being mounted with limited movement upon the support, means to limit the movement of said guide so that the entry end thereof may be moved between a position in the path of the projection on the rotary carrier and a position out of said path and nearer the axis of the carrier, and biasing means adapted to urge the entry end of said guide into the path of rotation of the projection.

8. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping comprising a support, a rotary carrier mounted on said support and on which a coil may be rested bodily in substantially coaxial relationship therewith, a projection on said rotary carrier, and a curved tubular guide through which the material is passed as it is drawn oif the coil, said guide being mounted so as to be capable of limited movement on the support about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary carrier and so that the entry end thereof may be moved into and out of the path of rotation of the projection on the rotary carrier, and biasing means adapted to move the guide in the direction to locate the entry end in the path of the projection on the rotary carrier and adapted to be overcome to permit the said entry end to move from said path when a pull is exerted on the material.

9. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping, comprising a support, wheels on said support to render said support transportable, a rotary carrier mounted on said support and on which a coil may be rested bodily in substantially co-axial relationship therewith, projections on the rotary carrier adjacent the periphery thereof and projecting parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier, and a tubular guide thrpugh which the material is passed as it is drawn off the coil, said guide being mounted for limited rocking movement on the support so that the inlet end thereof may be moved into and out of abutting engagement with a part of the rotary carrier, said guide being adapted to direct the material from the coil in a direction at an angle to the plane of rotation of the carrier and outwards across the path of rotation of the projections.

10. An improved holder for a coil of wire or metal strapping, comprising a support, a rotary carrier mounted on said support, a plurality of symmetrically arranged projections adjacent to the periphery of, and extending in a direction normal to the plane of rotation of said carrier and adapted to limit the expansion of a coil of in the path of rotation of the projections on the material placed on said carrier in substantially carrieranda position where it lies close to and co-axial relationship therewith, and a tubular inside'the path of rotation of the projections on guide membermounted with limited movement the carrier, and the outlet of said guide tube [5] on the support and through which guide tube the being directed upwardly and outwardly relatively 5 3 material is passed as it is drawn off the coil, the to the plane of rotation of the carrier.

entry end of said movable guide tube being ar- 7 ranged to move between a position where it lies GEOFFREY JOSEPH ABBOTT. 

